Cross-reading guide



Patented June 3, lfifitit UNI-TEE.)

ED XVHITMOBE, 013 MODESTO, oamronnm.

CROSS-READING GUIDE.

Application filed March 2t, 1925. Serial No. 17,894.

This invention relates to a device to be used in connection with large volumes of different kinds, such as tax books and the like, to enable matter written on correspondingr lines of adjacent pages of the book to be readily followed across by the reader.

In the large volumes from which the data for compiling individual tax rolls is taken. the name of the taxpayer usually at the left hand end of one double page of the volume, while the taxable amount is at the right hand end of the corresponding line.

The lines are close together with frequently very similar names one after the other, and the pages have a bend where they are bound together at the center. These features coupled with the fact that the horizontal distance between the name on one page and the corresponding monetary data on the other page is considerable, make it hard for the party compiling the rolls to easily read across from one to the other. As a result compiling); the rolls under such conditions is a slow, tedious and eye-strain ing job, and frequently errors are almost unavoidably made.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to avoid these objectionable features by providing a device by means of which cross reading onv any line of any page of the volume may be ver much simplified and expedited and the chances of error re duced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a device for the purpose usable without change in corn motion with any volume for which it is suited. the volume being associated or disassociated from the device at will by a single movement and without having to make any adj ust-ments.

A further object is to provide a device which when associated with a volume and in use will prevent accidental turning of any page until the operator desires to do so.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device showing a volume outlined in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a pair of flat rectangular elements, preferably in the form of frames disposed in a common plane and open in the middle to lighten the weight. These frames aremounted with a suitable vertical slope on base members 2, these members together forming a rigid book rest or stand.

The members 1 form supports for the covers 3 of a volume to be used, the lower ends of which are supported by a, bottom rest l projecting outwardly from the frames 1 at right angles thereto and rigidly mounted in connection therewith.

The back 5 of the volume rests in a vertical depression 6 formed between adjacent endpieces 7 of the frames 1, which end pieces project above the upper edges of said frames for a certain distance.

The upper ends of the members, 7 support bearings 8 for the pivotal pin 9 of a bar 10 which extends down about to the level of the bottom rest 4-. This bar is wedgeshaped in cross section and is adapted to project between any two leaves 11 ofthe volume when opened, as indicated in Fig. 3, and is transversely sl'dable on the pin between the members 7 This enables the bar to be shifted on its pivot so that it may fit properly between said leaves when the volume is opened at any page, when the crevice between adjacent leaves is in a different transverse plane than when said leaves are opened at the center of the volume.

The weight of the bar is such that it will always remain in place between the leaves and relieve any tendency of the latter to turn over.

The bar is provided with a longitudinal dove-tail guide strip 10 on its upper face, on which strip is slidable a block 12 having a cross-head 13 associated therewith. A spring 14 is disposed between the block and guide strip and holds the block against undesired movement, while allowing it to be slid along when necessary.

The outer face of the cross-head is convexly curved in a horizontal plane or at right angles to the bar 10 and pivoted on said curved face a horizontal strip 15 of resilient material such as spring steel or the like. This strip forms the cross-reading or alinement guide of the device and projects on both sides of the cross-head a distance sufficient to enable it to extend to the side edges of the pages of any volume likely to be placed on the stand. Its flexibility is of such a character that it will conform to the curvature of the leaves and will lie flat 'thereagainst, especially adjacent the outer portions thereof. The convex curvature of the cross head causes the strip to to have the necessary initial curvature toward the leaves.

At the opposite ends of the crossheads the strip 15 passes snugly through short guide straps 16 disposed at right angles to the strip, and which are longer in a plane transversely of the strip'than the width of said strip. These enable the strip to be turned slightly one way or the other about its pivotal connection so that it may be positively alined with a cross line on the leaves in the event that the latter do not lie at a true right angle relative to the bar 10.

To enable the leaves to be turned, the bar 10 and parts supported thereon must of course be raised sufficiently to allow the leaves to pass under the same without interference. This may be done by grasping and raising the bar by hand or by the following structure:

Projecting outwardly from the bar adjacent the upper end thereof is a short arm 17 from which a wire 18 or the like passes back over a pulley 19 disposed at the back of the supports 7 and then down substantially parallel to said supports and around a pulley 20 at the lower end of the stand to a pull-handle 21. This handle is disposed under the bottom rest t at a suitable point and is normally supported by a bracket 22 mounted on the rest 4. In operation the bar is first raised to enable the volume to be placed on the stand in the proper position, as before stated, said volume being opened to the desired place before the bar is allowed to drop.

Assuming that the data from the volume is to be compiled from the top of the pages down the cross-head is slid up along the bar to the desired location so that the liner guide 15 alines with a given line on the.

pages of the volume. The data from said line can then be read and taken down by the operator without danger of error and without any strain on the faculties.

The cross-head is then shifted hand as required to cause the guide 15 to line up with other lines in succession. In doing so it will be evident that the bar 10 is not disturbed since the cross head is mounted on the upper face thereof. When the data has been taken from any one pair of pages the bar 10 is lifted by pulling out the handle 21 with one hand and ihe dleaf may then be turned by the other From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device still in practice such deviations from such details may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cross-reading guide for books comprislng, as a unitary structure a stand for supporting a book, a bar adapted to be placed between adjacent pages of the book, a cross-lining guide mounted in connection with the bar and adapted for movement vertically of the bar and book-pages, and a pivotal connection between the bar and the stand beyond the plane of a horizontal edge of the book disposed to enable the bar to be swung clear of the book at will, whereby to allow of a page of the book being turned without disturbing the book on the stand.

A cross-reading guide for books comprising a stand for supporting a book, a bar adapted to be placed between adjacent pages of the book, a cross-lining guide mounted in connection with the bar and adapted for movement vertically of the bar and book-pages, a pivotal connection between the bar and the stand about the plane of a horizontal edge of the book, and means operable from a point removed from the bar enabling said bar and the guide thereon to be swung clear of the book.

3. A cross-reading guide for books comprising a stand for supporting a book, a resilient cross-lining guide strip adapted to rest against adjacent pages of the book, and a rigid cross head on which the strip is secured mounted in connection with the stand for movement up and down the book, the face of the cross head on which the strip is fixed having a convex curvature, and the strip abutting against said face throughout down by the extent thereof whereby to cause the strip to have an initial bend toward the leaves of the book.

' i. A cross-reading guide for books comprising a stand for supporting a book in an open and relatively immovable position, a transversely adjustable bar mounted in parmanent connection with the stand and adapt ed to project between adj aeent pages of the book to maintain them in spread relation, and a cross-lining guide mounted on the bar for movement up and down the pages.

5. A cross reading guide for books comprising a stand for supporting a book, a bar adapted to be placed between adjacent pages of the book, a cross lining guide mounted in connection with the bar and adapted for movement vertically of the bar and book-pages and spring means associated with the guide for maintaining the same in any vertical position along the bar.

6. A cross reading guide for books comprising a stand for supporting a. book, a bar adapted to be placed between adjacent pages of the book, a cross head slidably mounted on the bar, spring means acting to hold the cross head in any'position on the bar, and a cross-lining guide mounted on the cross head.

7. A cross reading guide for books comprising a stand for supporting a. book, a bar adapted to be placed between adjacent pages of the book, a cross head slidably mounted on the bar, and a cross-lining guide pivotally mounted on the cross head and an ranged for limiting turning movement rela tive thereto.

8. A structure as in claim 2 in which said means comprises an arm projectin radially from the pivotal connection of tie bar, a flexible member connected to the arm and extending downwardly at the back of the stand, and a handle for manipulating said flexible member mounted in the front of the stand below the book.

1n testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ED VVHITMORE. 

